Yakima Fire Department (YFD) crews responded to a structure fire last night, Wednesday, May 8th, in the 1000 block of South 9th Street. (It is the practice of the Yakima Fire Department to not release the specific address of a private home involved in a fire or other emergency response)
YFD responded to the call at 9:11 pm last night, Wednesday, and found a fire in a bedroom in one unit of the approximately 20-unit apartment building. YFD crews extinguished the fire before it could spread into structural spaces of the building.
The occupant of the apartment on fire suffered burns to his hands as he tried to extinguish the fire. The apartment sustained smoke and heat damage. The occupant was displaced and requested assistance from the Red Cross.
A mattress was the primary fuel for the fire. Initial indications are that smoking materials were too close to combustible items and caused the fire.
Occupants of the other apartments in the building evacuated with assistance from the Yakima Police Department. They were able to return to their apartments.
The initial estimated dollar loss was $20,000.
Approximately 16 YFD firefighters were on scene responding to the fire.